Method of Compressing Garment

ABSTRACT

A method of compressing a garment is disclosed and includes: forming the garment into a compact shape; placing the garment formed into a compact shape into a bag; placing the garment formed into a compact shape and bag into a compression machine; compressing the garment and bag in the compression machine forming a compressed garment.

FIELD OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

The field of the subject matter relates to compressing garments. In particular, polyester garments or garments that are constructed from less than 50% cotton.

BACKGROUND

Garments are compressed in order to create non-traditional ways of packaging. The packaging allows them to be sold or distributed in ways that traditional, non-compressed garments would be unable to be sold or distributed. Garments may be compressed into small shapes such as rectangular bricks, heart shapes, cylinders, etc. Such garments may be sold in baskets, stacks, thrown as promotional materials at sporting or other entertainment events, etc. as oppose to the traditional way clothes are sold, either folded or placed on hangers.

In order to be compressed using traditional methods, garments must be made out of 100% cotton or at least 50% cotton. Polyester garments and garments that are not made out of at least 50% cotton face a problem when compressed. When these garments are placed in conventional machines designed to compress garments and are compressed, they expand back almost immediately. Thus, these low cotton content garments are unable to be compressed, shrink-wrapped or shipped in a compressed state.

Therefore, it would be ideal to provide a method of compressing garments, in particular polyester garments or other garments that comprise less than about 50% cotton.

SUMMARY

A method of compressing a garment is disclosed and includes: forming the garment into a compact shape; placing the garment formed into a compact shape into a bag; placing the bag into a compression machine; compressing the garment and bag in the compression machine forming a compressed garment.

A method of compressing a garment is also disclosed and includes; placing the garment into a bag; placing the garment and bag into a compression machine; and compressing the garment and bag in the compression machine forming a compressed garment.

A method of compressing a garment includes; placing the garment into a bag; and placing the garment and bag into a compression machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

By way of example only, selected embodiments and aspects of a contemplated embodiment are described below. Each such description refers to a particular figure (“FIG.”) which shows the described matter. Each such figure includes one or more reference numbers that identify one or more part(s) or element(s) of the contemplated embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a contemplated embodiment of the method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a contemplated embodiment of the method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the garment 10 is in its uncompressed state. It is then formed into a slightly compact shape. The garment 10 is now slightly compacted garment 20. The slightly compacted garment 20 is placed in the bag 30. As used herein, the term “formed” means that the garment may be manually folded or otherwise made more compact by an individual or that the garment may be automatically folded or otherwise made more compact by a piece of machinery or automated system.

The slightly compacted garment 20 and the bag 30 comprise the pre-compressed garment and bag 40. The pre-compressed garment and bag 40 is placed in a compression machine 45, which compresses the pre-compressed garment and bag 40. The pre-compressed garment and bag 40 becomes compressed garment 50. Compressed garment 50 may then be shrink-wrapped or placed in another suitable wrapping or securing item, system or apparatus. A label, tag or card may be added to compressed garment 50 prior to shrink-wrapping in order to identify the garment 10.

In a contemplated embodiment, the garment 10 is polyester. The garment 10 may be made of any other suitable material that comprises about 50% cotton or less.

In another contemplated embodiment, the garment 10 is formed into a slightly compact shape by folding.

In a contemplated embodiment, the garment 10 is formed into a slightly compact shape by folding at least twice so that it is about a quarter of its original size.

In a contemplated embodiment, the bag 30 comprises at least about 50% cotton. The bag may be in number of shapes, such as a square, rectangle, circle, etc., but it must have at least one opening.

In a contemplated embodiment, the bag 30 is larger than the slightly compacted garment 20 so that the slightly compacted garment 20 may fit into it.

In yet another contemplated embodiment, the compressed garment 50 is smaller than the pre-compressed garment and bag 40 by approximately 25%. However, the ratio may differ so long as the compressed garment 50 is always smaller than the pre-compressed garment and bag 40.

The compression machine 45 is any one of the readily available commercial machines used to compress garments

Thus, specific embodiments of a method of compressing garments are disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of disclosure herein. Moreover, in interpreting the specifications and claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive matter, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of compressing a garment, comprising: forming the garment into a compact shape; placing the garment formed into a compact shape into a bag; placing the garment formed into a compact shape and bag into a compression machine; compressing the garment and bag in the compression machine forming a compressed garment.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment is polyester.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises less than about 50% cotton.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises at least about 50% cotton.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag has at least a single opening.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bag is larger than the garment formed into a compact shape.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed garment is shrink-wrapped.
 8. A method of compressing a garment, comprising; placing the garment into a bag; placing the garment and bag into a compression machine; and compressing the garment and bag in the compression machine forming a compressed garment.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the garment is folded.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the garment is folded at least twice.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the garment is polyester.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the garment comprises less than about 50% cotton.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the bag comprises at least about 50% cotton.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the bag has at east a single opening.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the bag is larger than the folded garment.
 16. A method of compressing a garment, comprising; placing the garment into a bag; and placing the garment and bag into a compression machine.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the garment is polyester.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the garment comprises less than about 50% cotton.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the bag comprises at least about 50% cotton.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the bag has at least a single opening. 